The Gulfstream G700 makes its first flight on the 14th of February 2020 marking the beginning of its test flight program.

The latest arrowhead in the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation’s quiver is the new G700 jet. It was introduced to us in October 2019 where we were shown footage of the world’s new biggest private jet taxiing under its own power and attendees at its launch having access to a full-scale cabin mock-up. Since then 5 test flight aircraft have been manufactured including a structural test article that has already finished its rigorous load testing duties.

The first takeoff for the G700 occurs 14 February 2020. Credit: Gulfstream

Gulfstream has now taken its vision for the future (a business jet with the longest range at the fastest speeds) and placed it in the bow and launched it for its first flight, significantly marking the beginning of its next phase: the flight test program. At 1:19p.m. on Feb 14, the G700 departed Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at and landed 2 hours and 32 minutes later with the aircraft making the flight on a 30/70 blend of sustainable aviation fuel.

The G700 now supersedes the G650ER in length and width. Credit: Gulfstream Some of Gulfstream’s latest business jet Features. Credit Gulfstream

The G700 features the longest, widest and tallest cabin in the industry with up to five living areas pierced by 20 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows. The new jet will also have the industry’s lowest cabin altitude and 100% fresh air coupled with the industry’s only ultra-high-definition circadian lighting system; speakerless surround sound; and a master suite with shower. Knowing all this you get the picture it’s set to be a very comfortable experience.

Virgil Abloh Designs New Livery for the US$185 Million ‘Air Drake’ Private Jet

Drake’s close friend Virgil Abloh creates a new design for the exterior of Cargojet’s Boeing B-767-24Q/ER nicknamed ‘Air Drake’.

Back in May 2019 Cargojet Inc announced a partnership with multi-award-winning artist Drake. The partnership sees Cargojet supply Drake with their Boeing B-767-24Q/ER complete with a VIP Boeing Business Jet Interior for Drake to use wherever and whenever he wants. In return Cargojet gets exposure and marketing as Drake travels the world, posting on Instagram, not to mention the photos also posted by media and aviation enthusiasts of the unique livery on websites.

Commenting on the deal at the time, Cargojet’s CEO, Ajay Virmani stated “Cargojet and Drake are both great Canadian successes, we are thrilled to be partnering together”, while Drake tweeted “Supporting home grown businesses has always been a top priority of mine, so when an opportunity came up to get involved with a great Canadian company I was honored to do so”. Drake subsequently took to Instagram, saying “No rental, no timeshare, no co-owners.”

When Drake first took delivery of the aircraft (current registration N767CJ) the fuselage was white with just the praying hands motive on the tail in black and white. Shortly after it was given a makeover in a baby blue with the words ‘Air Drake’ added to the engine cowlings and the OVO Owl logo placed towards the front.

Drake GIVES A tour inside his private jet LOANED OUT BY CARGOJET INC. MAY 10 2019

For reference, OVO is Drake’s clothing line and OVO Sound is his record label. OVO actually stands for October’s Very Own because Drake and his crew’s birthdays all are in October. The letters OVO looks like an owl’s face and therefore Drake chose an owl as the brand image.

OVO is also currently suing the company Bellroy who recently updated its owl logo by claiming Bellroy “changed the design of the owl by altering its posture, width, wings and feet in order to blatantly mimic the OVO owl.” It also claims that by placing the owl on footwear, Bellroy is competing with its “core business” of apparel.

OVO logo comparison with Bellroy new and old logo.

Back on track, enter Drake’s friend Virgil Abloh. Named by
Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018,
Abloh is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, artist, and DJ who has been the
artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s men’s wear collection since March 2018.

A trained architect, Abloh, entered the world of
international fashion with an internship at Fendi in 2009 alongside rapper
Kanye West. The two then began an artistic collaboration that would launch
Abloh’s career into founding the Milan-based label Off-White.

Abloh has worked with Drake previously to design a remodel of a Patek Philippe watch for Drake. In Future’s track “Life Is Good” Drake raps the following “Virgil got that Patek on my wrist goin’ nuts” and “Virgil got the Patek on my wrist doin’ front flips”. In the following days after the songs release both Abloh and Drake posted the same reptilian, all-green, set-with-emeralds Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726 to Instagram in January.

Now, less than three months later, Abloh has now helped Drake create a new updated livery for ‘Air Drake’ with Abloh initially teasing on his Instagram @virgilabloh “the tail number is a problem and the FBO is a whole other story…”

Drake followed up by posting a complete reveal of the new
livery on March 29 2020 on his Instagram account @champagnepapi. The new design
takes cues from Drake’s 2013 ‘Nothing Was The Same’ album cover art, with blue skies
and clouds throughout. The previous praying hands in front of the globe on the
tail have been removed in favour of the OVO owl standing with the world under
its feet. Air drake remains on the engine cowling and the sponsor company Cargojet’s
logo also remains.

Drake posted pictures of his new livery to his Instagram. Credit: @champagnepapi InstagramMore detail of the new livery on Drake’s private jet on loan from Cargojet. Credit: @champagnepapi Instagram

One new logo towards the rear of the fuselage states ‘Abloh Engineering’. This is a tongue in cheek boast of another of Abloh’s skills as he also has a civil engineering degree, which the designer completed in 2002 as an undergraduate student.

We would say keep your eyes peeled for the new Air Drake coming to a sky near you, however, with the new design creating the ultimate ‘chameleon amongst the clouds’ effect it’s basically going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Private aviation company VistaJet are offering complimentary empty leg flights to governments, consulates and medical experts to help during Covid-19 pandemic.

Under normal circumstances VistaJet is a global private aviation company with a fleet of over 79 Bombardier business jets that fly heads-of-state, corporate leaders and private individuals alike to over 187 countries around the world.

However in these turbulent times,
especially for the aviation industry, VistaJet are utilizing their global
infrastructure and working directly with Governments and consulates to help
repatriate citizens from abroad and offer flights to medical experts that
require emergency transport to critical locations as needed.

As part of regular operations, aircraft will often have “empty leg flights” that fly with no passengers aboard and re-position the aircraft to the next required destination. It is these empty leg flights that VistaJet are offering at no charge to medical organizations and governments (not available for commercial or personal use) and will also help with the necessary permits and complex paperwork.

VistaJet are also in talks to determine how they can assist with the transportation of key medical supplies given that many of the regular cargo flights have been drastically reduced due to governmental policies & restrictions caused by covid-19.

Speaking on VistaJet’s current situation,
Founder and Chairmain Thomas Flohr said, “Everyone at VistaJet continues to
assess how we can better serve our customers and the greater global community
during these difficult times. Listening to expert advice, whether that be
security, safety or medical, we are here to ensure that they are fully
supported with their flying needs. This is an unusual time and one that we must
all work together where possible to do whatever we can to help. We know we
don’t normally offer repatriation flights or the transportation of medical
equipment, but ultimately, we are a logistics company and we are here to help
the global community as much as we can. We are in this fight together.”

For more information VistaJet have created a dedicated web page to channel all requests from Governments and medical organizations so they can ensure prioritization, address the most critical cases and manage the relevant safety screening.

World’s First Airbus Corporate Jet ACJ320neo Designed by Alberto Pinto is Delivered

The world’s first Airbus ACJ320neo has completed its interior fit-out, designed by Alberto Pinto and has been delivered to the new owner, Acropolis Aviation, for private aviation charters.

Wake up refreshed after a long-haul flight in the comfort of our own sky-bedroom. Credit: Alberto Pinto Design

Elegant 19-seat cabin with
sleeping for 17

Focused on well-being for
12-hour flights

Delivering the highest levels
of comfort, with an average cabin altitude of 6,400ft, coupled with air
humidifier.

Latest technology optimised for
work and leisure with fast Ka-Band internet.

Aircraft set to be extremely
popular in the US, Middle East and European charter markets.

Distinguished by its aircraft registration “G-KELT”, the brand new ACJ320neo has been delivered to UK VVIP charter operator Acropolis Aviation after having undergone 13 months of cabin outfitting at AMAC Aerospace in Basel, Switzerland. The Airbus ACJ320neo was the first aircraft of this type delivered by Airbus Corporate Jets for VVIP configuration in early 2019.

Commenting on their latest acquisition, Acropolis Aviation says, “We are delighted with G-KELT and are confident this is going to be a very popular VVIP charter aircraft – especially in Europe, Middle East and the USA.”

Our customer @Acropolis_UK has taken delivery of the first ever #ACJ320neo, now fully outfitted with its state-of-the-art cabin, bringing the highest level of comfort to the market. It's now time for you to take your seat 💺and enjoy a sneak preview 👀of the #ACJ experience. pic.twitter.com/TXrIZj1YR3

Acropolis Aviation signed a contract for the Neo at EBACE 2015 and in 2016 they commissioned Paris-based Alberto Pinto Design to complete the design of the new ACJ320neo after having previously completed the interior design of Acropolis’ previous Airbus Corporate Jet G-NOAH.

“Selecting Alberto Pinto Designs was a natural choice for us,” said Acropolis CEO Jonathan Bousfield. “Our current, versatile cabin caters for a diverse range of travelers, including Heads of State, HNWIs, corporate and leisure clients. Choosing a design that reflects an evolution of our highly popular cabin will help us remain market leading.”

Designer Yves Pickardt from Alberto Pinto
was responsible for the cabin interior design and congratulated the AMAC team
who “brought our design to life beautifully.”

The VVIP interior will cater to many different discerning clients. Credit: Alberto Pinto Design

Accommodating up to 19 passengers, the ACJ320neo G-KELT takes long-haul flying to a new level of luxury and includes a private master bedroom with an en-suite featuring a full sized rectangular shower (the largest to ever be installed on an Airbus single-aisle jet).

Very much focused on the wellness of their
diverse clientele, Acropolis Aviation has ensured their ACJ320neo G-KELT offers
a full-sized kitchen galley and induction oven for guests to enjoy fresh meals
during flights. An aircraft cabin air humidifier has also been fitted to ensure
guests are left feeling refreshed after overnight flights.

In the event passengers don’t want a wink of sleep, the ACJ320neo G-KELT is fully equipped with Collins Aerospace’s Venue system and in-flight entertainment, offering 100’s of movies and TV programmes to view, watched across the 19 individual iPads and four large TV screens onboard.

Teenagers and jet-setting business folk alike can also rest assured they’ll have super fast Wi-Fi via the Ka-Band internet connection.

The first ACJ320neo was delivered to Acropolis Aviation. Credit: Airbus Corporate Jets

Based at Acropolis Aviation’s Farnborough Airport facility, this will be the charter company’s second Airbus Corporate Jet (the first being the previously mentioned G-NOAH, an older ACJ319 which came into service March 2010). Charter guests will now also be able to charter the new G-KELT for long-haul flights as it has a range of around 11,000km’s and can fly from the UK to destinations across North America as well as South America, Africa and Asia.